The skies geared up to do some more soaking. As Zee adjusted his harness, it reminded him of his St. George climb. He hadn’t planned on doing anything quite so reckless, but he did find himself in another state of physical frustration.

Now that Zee knew Tori returned his affection, his desire for her intensified. How could he speed their courtship along? All he knew was that he needed to get physical with someone, or somehow.

“Pax, what’s the hold up?” he questioned. “I need to get some energy out.”

“You need to?” Pax wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I’m getting married tomorrow. I’ve got the stress of making all the guests happy, etc., etc.”

“What’s the etc.?” Zee laughed.

“You try being engaged for six months.”

“Believe me, I’m gonna try to get engaged, but I’m gonna try for a week-long engagement.”

“Who’s trying for a week-long engagement?” Annie trilled.

“Sh!” Zee waved his hands. “Where did you come from?”

Annie smiled deviously. “Here and there and everywhere.”

“Okay, Dr. Seuss, but this is where the conversation ends.” Zee pointed his finger at her. “And I saw you clicking away on your camera over there while you were looking for a shirt. Don’t…just don’t.”

“Zee, please, please, please.” She snuggled up to him, while batting those adorable, kid-sister eyes. “I only ask that you look at what I’ve captured. It would hit New York Times Bestseller’s list based solely on the cover. You guys got it!”

Ethan pulled at Zee’s shorts. “We got what?”

“We gotta get going on some wicked zip lines.” Zee patted Ethan on his head. “You’re gonna love this, fellow thrill seeker.”

Ethan was the coolest kid. Zee finally had a kid-buddy to hang with.

Ethan grabbed Zee’s shirt. “You’re going to be with me the whole time, right Zee?”

“Of course,” Zee nodded, “and your mom will too.”

“And…you’ll watch out for her?”

“You guys won’t leave my sight for a minute,” Zee promised.

“Adelante!” An energetic guide stomped into the outdoor waiting area. “Come with me to travel like Tarzan through our beautiful selva.”

Annie and Tori exchanged a look. Zee wasn’t sure what they telepathically said, but it caused Tori’s cheeks to blush; a reaction that generated increased blood flow in Zee.

“Who’s first?” the guide yelled. “Primero?”

Zee raised his hands, “Mi…primero.” He turned to Ethan, “That way, I can watch you come to me on the line. Okay? I’ll be watching you the entire time.” He wasn’t going to share with Ethan his other reason for going first.

Pax grabbed Zee by the harness and did a final check by yanking and pulling. “You’re good.”

“Superman, right?” the guide questioned.

“Superman?” Zee responded. “I thought you said Tarzan?”

“Tarzan swing is at the end. Superman, you go flying like Superman.”

“Sure.” Who wouldn’t want to be Superman?

The guide hooked the cords to the back of Zee’s harness and motioned for him to jump off the plank. Zee looked across the deep valley he was about to cross.

“One and a half kilometers to the other side,” the guide said, tipping his protective cap. “Jump.”

Zee had to trust his cousin’s equipment review. Here he was, trusting his life to Pax again, but so were Tori and Ethan. They were also entrusting Zee with their lives. Something about that notion made Zee jump into the air and shout, “Yes!”

Perhaps he should have jumped with his arms stretched forward and his belly down, as Superman would have done; instead of jumping up and out. He came to that conclusion as his back snapped up, forcing his arms and legs to flair until he regained control of his limbs and proceeded in a Superman position. It would’ve been less embarrassing, and less physically painful, if he’d done it that way.

To see in front of him, Zee had to squint his eyes mid-way through his rapid ride. The misty clouds offered an unwelcomed, yet refreshing bath. It was early in the expedition to be soaked, but Zee never did mind the rain. When he was a young boy, he would go outside and play during every rainstorm, to the point where the neighbors began addressing it with his mother. But I need to find worms to fish with Pax, he’d said, with the anticipation of playing longer in the rain.

Zee hoped his life wasn’t flashing before his eyes. He looked down at the wild, primeval forest, unblemished my man. He felt a sense of absolute freedom. Well, if he slipped out of his harness and died, at least it would be doing something exhilarating, and with people he loved. He loved them. He was hundreds of feet above a forested floor, soaring like Superman, and he shouted, “I love them!” Because he could shout it and not be heard by anyone but a Howler monkey, or perhaps a sloth.

Now it was a matter of becoming a family.

Zee began slowing himself down as he approached the next landing platform. A guide was ready with outstretched arms to pull him in and set him up right.

“Like it?” the guide questioned.

“Love is the only word I got.” Zee nodded.

The guide spoke into a handheld radio. “Listo.”

The line began vibrating once more. It took a minute for Ethan to come billowing through the clouds with two thumbs up. “Catch me, Zee!” he yelled.

The guide contorted his face. “He’s not slowing down. And I’ve slowed him as much as I can.”

“No worries.” Zee pushed the guide aside and braced himself for the hit. “I got him.”

Ethan plowed into Zee’s chest, head first, expelling all air from Zee’s lungs. It was a more painful hit than his worst wipeout, and it placed him on his back, a foot from the edge of the platform.

“That was awesome!” Ethan exclaimed.

As Zee laid on his back with his arms stretched taught above his head, he sucked in as much air as his lungs would allow.

“You okay, Zee?” Ethan kneeled next to him on the platform.

“Give me a sec,” he said, sucking in another deep breath. “Wind…knocked out, but I’ll be fine. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you got a wimpy skull.”

Ethan bowed his head. “Sorry, Zee.”

“No problem.” Zee sat up. “I love you, kid. And I’ll always catch you. Promise.”

Ethan put his face into Zee’s chest and sniffed in what could only be explained as mucinous love. Zee was finally getting his dream.

“Now, let’s see if your mom’s on her way so I can be ready to catch her too. Better yet, maybe I’ll be able to catch a kiss.”

Ethan smiled as he shook his head. At least he didn’t roll his eyes.